
DarshanTalks Podcast
Welcome to DarshanTalks!
We demystify fraud for legal, regulatory, and compliance essentials in the life sciences and pharmacy industries. Through engaging 15-30-minute interviews with influential change makers, short educational regulatory defbriefs, and 60 second audio takeaways, we unveil the strategies behind bringing drugs and devices to market—and keeping them there!
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We focus on life science issues involving medical affairs, marketing and advertising, and clinical research so that you can learn about the industry, enhance your business and grow your career.
DarshanTalks Podcast
Are You Picking the Wrong KOLs?
Darshan Kulkarni and Edye Edens tackle the complexities of identifying and working with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) in clinical research. While KOLs can bring valuable expertise to a therapeutic area, simply labeling someone as a KOL—especially when they self-identify—can raise significant compliance concerns.
They unpacks two major red flags:
- High Prescribers – Is the KOL being compensated for research or for prescribing power?
- Influencer Effect – Are they being used to sway other physicians’ prescribing behavior?
They also highlight issues with KOL selection based on outdated reputation or academic status rather than real-time operational capacity. Choosing the wrong KOL—one who can’t meet documentation or compliance standards—can derail your site’s performance.
Key takeaway:
Don't focus on titles—focus on capability, compliance, and fit. Avoid the label "KOL" and instead qualify experts based on their patient databases, research experience, and operational readiness.
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